Straight line pumper



July 14, 1936. J. B. PICARD STRAIGHT LINE PUMPER Filed Oct. 26, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l l ENTOR /v'cmf 21a ATTORNEY July 14, 1936. J, B P|CARD STRAIGHT LI NE PUMPER Filed Oct. 26, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY July 14, 1936. J B c j 2,047,490

STRAIGHT LINE PUMPER Filed Oct. 26, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 :I ENTQR W mWK fig; ATTORNEY Patented July 14, 1936 Y. yqUNl-TE J"S TF G IU YFUW FF.. I 7 I Jo n islriajrdirq eao, one; assets t A NationalSuperiorCompany, Toledo, Ohio, a

corporation of: Delaware c c Application October 26, 1935; Serial "N My invention relates to pumpingmechanism for wells, such for instance oil wells, *and the" generalobject in view-is the obtaining of straight line'motion-of the-pump rod,- usually termedthe polish rod or sucker rode-" I l Thus the general object in view is the altera-f tion of the arcuate movement, -imparted by the" oscillating-power element, such as a walking beam,

p ovide straight line movement? of t ment be s'such' as'the'polish-rodi The invention is' advantag o l applicable to l standard rig pumpin ap r p mp g pow; J ersfpumping jacks and" other forms of'*'w 11a.* p mpingrmechanism wherein an oscillatinging beam is;employed;-

are longer.-,. i a

An early attempt to correct zifaultinvolved the mounting of an arcuateguide onztheiend 0f,''

the walking beam which is engaged byichains or cables, the lower ends .of which are attached to the polish rod. This type of mechanism popu-v; larly referredv to as a fhorse headi, while effecting: an improvement in the direction of straight line moti'onof the polish rod provedineiiectiveinthe case of deep well pumpinglor where the loads were. relatively heavy Where chains. were used ex-z, cessive w arloct r ed. tw n the nt la ed l nks 7 1 and between the links and the arcuate guide and there was no, practical manner :of properly, lubri eating the wearing surfaces; Where cables were used; instead of chains; due to ilexing'the former broke frequently anq'requirelq rep1ae ent;' A later'developmenflwas that known, [asthe'jj single link 'or' twoi point suspension wherein the' upper endof the polish'rod 'was'conneetedbf a: link or twin links to the end of the walking' beam," which link or twin links engaged anabutment on the walking beam as the latter moved. u 'iwairdly, thus substituting two 'arcs' of 'moveme'ntforthe single arc of the single point suspensioni-the'de 1 flection ofthe -polish rod being measured bythe to'a de'gree approximatedstraight line "motion; and Was also an improvement over the horse hea'd type of suspension' because the two point" su's pension" was morefrigi'djand made possible better i lubrication-of" moving parts. 'A -st'ill latefdevelopnient isfthe three'point' f suspension or double'linktype wherein the-upper" 4 end of the upper link is pivotallyconnecte'djto 1 the end' o'f thewalking beam and itslow'er end linkglthe lO-Wel end. "Of which 1atter-'is 'pivotal1y* connected to" the polish rod thelower "portions of the "links in turn ngaging an abutment oh the w'e'tlking beam as thelatter'moves upwardly.

In the last mentioned type a three arc-movel5' satisfactory 'and'materially reduces the deflection of the polish rod; but itfis 'not "so; efficient in the more recentlydeveloped pumping units designed togiv'e xtremly longstrokesi 5 'Iti-fthe presenti'nvention, the principa object in vi'ew i's 't'o obtain siibstaritial straight line move" ment of the'polish ro'dflby the provision of'atyp'e of mechanism capable of arriving at the desired result especially in extremely long "stroke" 'pii'm mg; and lso" which is free from the mechanicalfaults' of c instance; as-those characteristic of the horse head type: 1! 5. 'g l m I; 1-- M M 'I obtain thes results bythe use'bfa meolia-' nism comprising a-single' link or twin links piv otally connecting the 'polish' rodt'o' the walking beam and an oscillating bar mounted indepen'q-rv ently of the walking beam and pivotall'y'connected to theuppe'ren'dof'thepolish rod'andthe Inove ments ofwhichgcansedbythe travel of the polish rod, are so "controlled as'at all times to "retain the" 40 polish rod'ina straight line "or'vertical' path; I In the accompanying drawings'jwherein I have illustrated a practical embodiment Tot the prin-' ciple's of my invention, without however lim'iting "j the scope of" the latter; "Fig; 1 is aside elevation" w of a pumping power to which my invention is appliedpw a Fig; 2' is a; rear elevation of the same looking fro'mthe'rightiniFigl. I

Fig. '3 'is a' view in sectiontaken' along the line 505'? connection with thesuspensionlinks', ioQkingfrom" theleftinFigfiIE c i l w 1 Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side'elevation ofthe'to previous types of suspension such; for '30,

secondary beam shown retracted with the links disconnected therefrom.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, similar to Fig. 1, but showing a different application of power to the walking beam.

Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation illustrating the relative position of the elements in different parts of the pumping stroke.

Referring to the drawings, |ll represents the base of the pumping power illustrated as comprising the parallel longitudinal members front cross beam |2 and rear cross beam |3.

|4 represents opposed supporting frames shown as of the A-type rising from the base and converging upwardly. |5 represents a double fulcrum bearing in which are journaled the end portions of the fulcrum pin 6 upon the intermediate portion of which is fixedly mounted the saddle H to the flat upper surface of which the,

walking beam I8 is secured, so that the walking beam may oscillate with the pin I6 as its axis of movement.

I9 represents a power transmitting unit mounted on the base |0 in the rear of the frames and having the crank shaft 20 extending on each side thereof. The crank shaft may be rotated by a motor through a belt drive and gear reduction unit as shown.

2| represents eccentric crank disks secured to the shaft 20 and provided with the adjustable counterweights 22. 23 represents a pair of pitmans secured at their lower ends by means of universal joints to the crank pins 24 which may be secured in any of the holes 25 of the eccentric disks 2|.

The upper ends of the pitmans are pivotally secured to the cross yoke 26 which in turn is secured to the walking beam |8 through the universal joint member 21. Thus the walking beam I8 may be oscillated by the double pitman structure which in turn is operated by the eccentric cranks on the rotary crank shaft 20.

The front end of the walking beam I8 is provided with the bearing 28 through which extends the pin 29 which supports the suspension link structure 30. In the embodiment illustrated the suspension link structure 30 comprises the flat rein members 3| which are fixed as by welding at their upper ends to the bearing members 32 journaled on the ends of the pin 29. The lower ends of the reins 3| are fixed as by welding to the web members 33 of the casting 34. 35 represents a polish rod grip arranged to support the polish rod 36 and which has the opposed trun-' nions 31 journaled in suitable bearings in the casting 34.

It is obvious that the suspension connection 30 may be of any construction providing sufiicient flexibility to permit the change of direction of movement from arcuate to straight line, such, for instance, as a flexible cable or chain.

The web members 33 of the casting 34 are triangular in shape as shown in Fig. 1 and the rear portions thereof are provided with the split bearings 38 arranged to receive the ends of the pin 39 whose intermediate portion is journaled in a bearing carried by the end of the secondary beam 40. The rear end of the secondary beam 40 has journaled therein the pin 4|, the ends of which extend beyond each side of the beam and are held in the split bearings 42 carried by the upper end of the rocker post 43, as shown in Fig. 2. 'The lower end of the post is pivotally mounted as at 44 on a horizontal axis on the cross beam 3.

It will be understood that any suitable means for permitting a substantially horizontal movement of the rear end of the secondary beam may be employed, such, for instance, a sliding guide bearing.

Thus the secondary beam is pivotally secured at its front end to the upper end of the polish rod and at its rear end to the rocker post, and thus is oscillated by the up and down movement of the polish rod in response to the oscillation of the walking beam.

I maintain the polish rod in a vertical path of movement by the provision of means to control the oscillation of the secondary beam so that it moves longitudinally in such a manner as to resist the influence of the walking beam tending to deflect the polish rod from a vertical path.

As a practical form of such control for the movement of the secondary beam 40, I provide a guiding link structure generally designated as 45 and comprising split bearings 46 carried by the supporting frames M in which are journaled the ends of transversely disposed pins 4! upon which are clamped the split collars on the front ends of the twin links 48 whose rear ends are provided with split bearings 49 in which are journaled the protruding ends of a cross pin 50 carried by a bracket 5| which in turn is slidably mounted on the secondary beam 40, the bracket being provided with depending lips or flanges to grasp the top flange of said beam. 52 represents plate bolts for'securing the bracket 5| to the underlying top flange of the beam 4|] to enable the bracket to be clamped fixedly to the beam.

53 represents an abutment member fixed on the upper surface of the beam 40 and provided with holes through which may extend the stud bolts 54 carried by the bracket 5| so that the bracket may be bolted to the abutment and thus fixed relative to the beam. Thus if said bolts 52 and 54 be released, the secondar beam 40 may be retracted toward the right from its operative position shown in Fig. 1, the bracket 5| sliding along the beam as the latter is retracted. To limit the retractive movement of the secondary beam, the top surface of the same is provided with a fixed lug 55 which acts as an abutment to be engaged by the slidable bracket 5| and thus limit the rearward or retractive movement of the secondary beam.

Referring'now to Fig. 6, I therein show a modification wherein the power transmitting unit I9 is mounted on the base In in front of the supporting frames 4 and the pitmans 23 are arranged to lift the front end of the walking beam I8 instead of pulling down on the rear end of the latter as in the preceding views. Weights 56.may be mounted on the rear end of the beam l8 to counterbalance the weight of the polish rod. 51 represents the source of power for operating the transmitting unit IS.

The length of the suspension link structure 3| and the rocker post 43 may be determined when the secondary beam 40 is substantially parallel to the walking beam I8 and when the latter is in its substantially horizontal or mid-stroke position as shown in Fig. 1. It is preferable that the rocker post 43 be sufficiently long to produce a relatively small rise in the arcuate movement of the pin 4|. Theoretically the pin 4| should move in a horizontal plane.

When the apparatus is in its mid-stroke position the secondary beam is in its rearmost position and it is maintaining the sucker rod 36 in the vertical line 'a, b, e, by means of the lin structure 45, as shown in Fig. 7. The free ends of the links 48, of the link structure 45, are pivotally attached to the secondary beam at a point which is practical and convenient in manufacturing the-device. As the secondary'beam is oscillated this pivotal pointmust maintainvthe polish rod 36 in the same vertical line. Thus when the pumping unit is at the up- ""J'per, intermediate or lower position of its stroke,

the: polish wells in the same vertical line a, b, c atthese three positions, and the axes of the pin 5|, or the pivotal beam connection to the link structure, scribes an are through the three points "'shown on Fig. 7 as d, e and ,f. The are d, e, 1

represents three points o-n'a circle the radius of which is the distance between the pivotal points of the link structure 45. Owing to the'fact that in the structure illustrated the axis of the pin 5| does not intersect the neutral axis of the secondary beam 40, but lies aboveit, the fixed pivotal connection of the link structure 45, or the axes of. the'pin 41, lies above the horizontal plane of the neutral axes of the secondary beam when in the mid-stroke position as shown in Fig; -1.'

This condition also illustrates the flexibility'of the straight line motion mechanism in adapting it to walking beams provided with different types of supports.

" 'In operation the walking beam l8 oscillates through an arc above its horizontal position approximately equal to the arc of movement below its horizontal position. As the beam lever arm, which extends from fulcrum pin I6 to bearing pin 29, is at an angle from and above horizontal when the beam is in its horizontal position, the greatest deviation of the bearing pin 29, which supports the upper end of suspension link 30, from the vertical axis of the polish rod occurs at the upper end of the operating stroke as shown in Fig. '7.

The link structure 45, which regulates the longitudinal movement of. the secondary beam 40, is pivotally connected to the A frame l4 above the secondary beam. Therefore, the arc of movement above horizontal of said link structure 45 is less when the secondary beam moves above its horizontal position than the arc of movement of the link structure 45 below horizontal when the secondary beam moves through an equal are below its horizontal position.

The force required by the walking beam l8 to set in motion the polish rod at or near the beginning of the up-stroke is greater than that required to sustain the rod in motion throughout the balance of the up-stroke. In the arrangement illustrated on the drawings the lateral deviation of the bearing 29 at the upper end of the suspension link, from the vertical axis of the polish rod, is at a minimum at the beginning of the up-stroke.

At this position in the cycle of. operation the stress imposed upon the link structure for regulating the longitudinal movement of the secondary beam, is at a minimum although the load sustained by the walking beam at this instant is greatest.

At the upper end of the pumping or operating stroke the bearing 29 at the upper end of the suspension link 30 is at its position of maximum deviation from the vertical axis of the polish rod. At this point the force required by the walking beam 3 to sustain the load is considerably less than at the beginning of the up-stroke.

At this point of the operating cycle the angle of deviation from horizontal of the link structure 45 isless than its angle below horizontal or when the walking beam I8 is at the bottom of its operating stroke. 1

Therefore, the stress set up in the link structure 45 at the upper endof the operating stroke is not excessive'as the reduced arc of movement and the reduced imposed load on the walking beam I8compensatesfor the increased stress that would otherwise beset up due to the greater deviation or displacement of the upper suspension link bearing 29 from the vertical axis of the polish rod.

The use of this arrangement results in the reduction' of stress in the members, thereby permitting the employment of lighter members to sustain the substantial loads imposed.

It is evident that certain advantages are obtained by the arrangement disclosed. However,

point of the beam; and/or the beam may be sopositioned'relative to the well to provide for the same deviation of the suspension point from the vertical axis of the polish rod at the upper and lower limits of the stroke. On the other hand the mid-stroke position of the sus'pensionpoint on the walking beam could be arranged to deviate on the other side from the vertical axis to the same degree.

It is evident that if the link structure of the secondary beam is so mounted or to be disposed in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the secondary beam when the latter is horizontal the arc of movement of the free end of the link structure will be equal above and below the horizontal as the walking beam oscillates and the polish rod reciprocates.

It is quite evident that the flexibility of. this device may be advantageously employed to suit the conditions required. Thus the link structure may be mounted on an independent support or be replaced by an arcuate cam or by any other mechanism adapted to provide the proper movement of the secondary beam and either structure may be provided with an independent support.

I claim:,

1. In a straight line lift device for use with a walking beam, the combination of a suspension link having one end connected to the walking beam, a secondary beam having one end connected to the other end of the suspension link, means including a link structure connecting the secondary beam to a fixed point for regulating the movement of the secondary beam to maintain the last mentioned end of the link in a straight line path of movement.

2. In a straight line lift device for use with a walking beam, the combination of a suspension link having one end connected to the walking beam, a secondary beam having one end connected to the other end of the suspension link, means including a link structure connecting the secondary beam toa. fixed point for regulating the movement of the secondary beam to maintain the last mentioned end of the link in a straight line path of movement, and means for retracting the secondary beam and the last mentioned end of the suspension link away from said path of movement.

3. In a straight line pumping device, the combination with a support, of a walking beam pivotally mounted on said support for oscillation, a link pivotally connected to said support below the walking beam, a secondary beam pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to the free end of said link, means permitting longitudinal movement for supporting one end of the secondary beam, and a hanger link connecting the other end of the secondary beam with the adjacent end of the walking beam and arranged to carry the pumping load while its lower end is held in a straight line path of movement by the secondary beam.

4. In a straight line pumping device, the combination with a support, of a Walking beam pivotally mounted on said support for oscillation, a link pivotally connected to said support below the walking beam, a secondary beam pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to the free end of said link, a second link having one end pivotally connected to one end of the secondary beam and its lower end pivotally supported at its base, and a hanger link connecting the other end of the secondary beam with the adjacent end of the walking beam and arranged to carry the pumping load while its lower end is held in a straight line path of movement by the secondary beam.

5. In a straight line pumping device, the combination with a support, of a walking beam pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends on said support for oscillation, a link pivotally connected to said support below the walking beam, a secondary beam pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to the free end of said link, and a substantially vertical second link having its upper end pivotally connected to one end of the secondary beam and pivotally supported at its lower end, and a hanger link connecting the other end of the secondary beam with the adjacent end of the walking beam and arranged to carry the pumping load while its lower end is held in a straight line path of movement by the secondary beam.

6. In a straight line pumping device, the combination of a beam, means for supporting one end of said beam to permit longitudinal movement of the latter, means connected to said beam intermediate of its ends to confine the movement of the beam to a predetermined vertical arcuate path, a walking beam arranged for oscillation, and a hanger link having its upper end pivotally connected to the walking beam and supporting the pumping load therefrom and having its lower end pivotally connected to the other end of the first mentioned beam.

7. A straight line motion device for connection with the lower end of a hanger link supporting the pumping load from an oscillating walking beam, the combination of a link pivotally connected to a support below the walking beam, a secondary beam pivotally connected intermediate of its ends to the free end of said link and having one end connected to the lower end of the hanger link, and means permitting longitudinal movement for supporting the other end of said secondary beam.

JOHN B. PICARD. 

